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Letters welcome your criticisms, advice, and ideas. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity. Please write to: Letters, 63 S. Main St., PO Box Threads 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506; or via e-mail: th@taunton.com Pattern positive I just finished reading Barbara Emodi's article "Stop! Are You Sure That Pattern Will Work?" (No. 74, pp. 42-47), and want to tell you how helpful it is to understand patterns anew. The side-by-side photographs and diagrams illustrating your descriptions are excellent. I especially appreciate your advice to forego the pattern company "authority" in favor of a personally collected repertoire of techniques, and to "feel absolutely confident and free to substitute an updated technique for an archaic one." I'll enjoy sewing even more as I avoid the pitfalls of poor patterns. -Nancy King, Northfield, MA Barbara Emodi is absolutely on target, especially about antiquated construction techniques. I can add three more pattern "tests": 1. Study the pattern's garment photo. Sometimes the sketches are attractive, but the photo shows gaping necklines and armholes, straining across shoulders, pulling in the crotch, and other problems. 2. Check the instruction sheet's stitching sequence. In a factory, as much as possible is stitched "flat." 3. Look at the grading, especially in children's and toddler's clothes. If a pattern is graded 1 in. in length, while the body height standards are in increments of 3 in., a dress that fits a 6-year-old, when graded down to a toddler 2, will drag on the floor! I find that Kwik-Sew patterns of- fer the best fit, accurate "all directions" grading, and most logical construction techniques. -Janet van der Meulen, Newburyport, MA 6 TH READS Dress-form forum "Clone Yourself a Fitting Assistant" by David Page Coffin in No. 75 (pp. 37-41) is described as being a "fast, cheap" way to make your own dress form. This is true only if you value neither your own time nor that of the person assisting you. When time is taken into consideration, I find that Fabulous Fit (see p. 84) is the way to go. In addition to sculpting the dress form to your present shape without help, you can alter it to accommodate future body changes. My problems include having a s- in. neck-to-shoulder-seam measurement, a 34FFF bust, and an abdominal protrusion resulting from steroids and a spine injury. I'm also 4 ft. 10 in. tall and short-waisted. Using Fabulous Fit, I've sculpted the dress form to reflect my body as it is today and can easily alter it to accommodate my body as it changes. I highly recommend this system, which offers excellent price and performance. -Barbara E. Williams, Greenwich, CT I loved the dress-form article and enjoyed Leah Crain's Web page, which has lots of information about making a duct-tape form. But I was concerned about the duct tape leaving adhesive on pins stuck into it. When I tested this and was left with sticky pins, I decided to use the paper-tape method described by Barbara Deckert. The article said that the paper tape can be found at office-supply stores, but since it requires moistening, it's no longer popular and most stores don't carry it. I called Deckert, who recommended National Business Products (800-875-8230; they take mail orders) and told me that one roll TH READS Editor Christine Timmons Art Director Catherine Cassidy Senior Editor David Page Coffin Assistant Editor Laura White Copy/Production Editor Elaine Burke Acting Associate Art Director Kim Jaeckel Editorial Secretary Nancy Nelle Farmer Contributing Editors Susan B. Allen, Linda Lee, Karen Morris Publisher Paul Roman Advertising Manager Ellen Saracino National Account Manager Vivian Dorman Account Manager Carol Gee Sr. Advertising Coordinator Nancy Clark Advertising Secretary Marjorie Brown Acquisitions Editor Jolynn Gower Publishing Coordinator Sarah Coe Telephone: Threads Books &: Videos: How to contact Threads: Fax: Subscription Services: Advertising S es:( E-mail: Web site: To Order: aI E-mail: Retail Sales: (800) 283-7252 (203) 426-8171 (203) 426-3434 th@taunton.com http:// (800) 888-8286 Other Inquiries: (800) 477-8727 E-mail: Taunton Trade Company: at thservice@taunton.com 800) 283-7252 ext. 531 thads@taunton.com for Authors brochure, call or write to us manuscripts, photographs, and ideas from our readers, amateur or professional. We'll acknowledge all submissions, return those we can't use, and pay for articles we publish. For our Writing an article Threads welcomes articles, proposals, Threads, PO Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506. Information (800) 283-7252 ext. 265 www.taunton.com